Haircuts!

It's that time of year again....much needed haircuts! I realized that Zayne was looking more and more like a baby with his baby curls and his hair was getting tangled. Malek's head was looking much too big for his body and he would sweat like crazy around the bottom of his hairline. Certainly hair cut time! The last time I cut Malek's hair, he asked for me to cut it like a troll and then I had to have everyone compliment his troll hair. This time..he wanted it to look 'just like Baba'. Malek giggled through the entire cut which helped ease Zayne's fear of the clippers.

Playing with a mohawk as we went along! 

Showing off new clothes and new haircuts!

The BIG Hotel

We ended up deciding to stay through the weekend at the resort in San Antonio. They have amazing pools and the kids spent at least 5 hours a day in the water. Instead of rings or floaties, we tried life jackets. They were able to move about much better in the water and I loved not having to worry that they might slip out.

Malek loved going down the 'Raging River' with Bassem!

Malek was floating down the lazy river and hanging onto the inner tube. When I told him I wanted a picture with his feet....he sure showed me his feet, aimed right at the camera!

They both got comfortable floating on their own.

Zayne kept jumping, going under, and coming up saying 'I'm a SHARK!'

Bassem told the boys that he'd make them both float in the lazy river....sure enough, they thought it was great!

Bassem and Malek in the 'Raging River'. They went down a water slide with Malek between Bassem's feet in the front of the double inner tube. At the bottom of the water slide is the river with all of the waterfalls and places that the kiddie pool kids can spray and splash you. Right after they go through this waterfall, they connect into the river where they met up with Zayne and I. Zayne decided that once was enough on the water slide. He wasn't as excited as Malek, who went a few times. :)

After the lazy river, water slides, and kiddie pool all closed for the evening, we ended up swimming up in the big pool. Bassem took Malek to use the restroom so it was just Zayne and I. Zayne started saying 'I'm a SHARK!' in the kiddie pool as he swam. So when he told me he was a 'BIG fish!', it was very cute....Until he threw a curve ball and told me he was swimming like a ......CAT?! What a silly boy! We always rescue butterflies and moths from our local pool so when he found a 'yellow bug' and tried to rescue it, he was very surprised that it stung him. He started screaming, 'The yellow bug bite me!' Luckily he wasn't allergic.

Playing with one of the 'GIANT IPad' coffee tables in hotel lobby later one evening. They played 'ribbons' and then we played a game of chess two on two.

Poolside Fun!

We arrived in San Antonio last night and took the boys swimming. Today, when Bassem was in all day meetings, we went back to the pool. The pool is pretty amazing, it is an indoor/outdoor pool that has a bar (which was closed) and lots of fountains for the kiddos. We spent hours there this morning into the afternoon since it was shaded from the 103 degree sun.

We brought some juice and water since the 'bar' was closed.... The boys loved that they could stay in the water to drink!

Zayne pouting because I made him wear his swim ring to swim....He wanted to swim without it and hang onto me....One mom and two babies (if one is without a ring, the other will be too) is too much without rings.

Zayne was calling Malek 'my baby' and hugging him, it was sooo sweet!

Playing in the 'igloo' as they called it...Malek was so worried that it was 'melting'.

As they were getting worn out and were ready for lunch...they bumped heads. One was going into the 'igloo' the other coming out and the water skewed just how close they were. There was no bump or bruise, but the over exaggerated story was hilarious!

All clean and full from lunch...this is how they looked until they fell asleep....All snuggly and comatose as they watch 'Nickewodeon' before nap.

Zayne's first solo shower....

Zayne finally decided not to be terrified of the shower and joined me....Except I got out to grab the camera and he didn't care if I got back in or not! He was LOVING it and was cute as could be!

Earlier in the week Malek and Zayne were in the tub together and were practicing rescuing each other from 'sinking' in the water....The video was so sweet, I love the connection between brothers!

New shoes

Zayne and I were on our way home this morning when we made a slight detour....to the mall. We totally lucked out and got some really cute new shoes for him and Malek at incredible prices. I got them each a pair a size up from their shoe size now (to go with the pairs in their closet which are also a size up). The store clerk gave Zayne his in his very own bag and he so proudly walked around the rest of the mall with his own bag of shoes. As soon as we got home he and Malek put on their shoes and didn't take them off until this evening. As happy as they were...they didn't want to be disturbed from 'homework', painting, or playing long enough to take a picture. Hence the less than happy faces in the picture. Malek asked to wear his new shoes to school tomorrow and has already started learning to tie his own laces, which I imagine will take some time as tying anything is still foreign to him. So YAY for new shoes!

Who says being sick is no fun?

Malek got sick and so generously shared it with Zayne and I. So, being housebound and not feeling so well, we made the most of it. The boys are starting to notice Halloween items in stores and programs on TV. I figured it was a good way to get them distracted. I pulled the new Halloween pajamas out of the closet and surprised them. Yes...long pants and long sleeved isn't the most appealing when it's 98 degrees outside, but we were all stuck inside with the AC running so we may as well be cozy and happy. They went crazy with joy. Malek calls them his 'Haunted Mansion' pajamas. They had a few surprises throughout the day. Lunch was Halloween themed with Halloween shaped chicken nuggets, corn, and bug shaped fruit snacks. At bed time they discovered that the mummy and skeleton on their pajamas glow in the dark. It was hard getting them to sleep they were so excited about it! After a full day, Malek asked to be a gorilla for Halloween so he can scare all of the girls. He wanted to be the scariest thing he could think of...it's a toss up between a gorilla and a monster.

Today we got a package from my mom with a life size puzzle of a tiger. They boys put worked together to complete the puzzle. Then they laid down and measured if they were as big as a tiger. It was a great distraction from not feeling so well. In the box was a picture of me when I was about Zayne's age. Malek saw it and asked if he could put it on his wall. In his words, "It looks better than the picture of my class!" I love his thinking and excitement over the little things.

Bigger and newer...

There are always things that make me take a step back and realize (again and again) that the boys have never seen. This is a great example. I usually buy them baby carrots, already cut and peeled. So one day I bought some regular carrots to make carrot soup and they were SHOCKED at how big they were and that they look just like carrots bunnies eat! Of course...they had to try eating the carrots like bunnies. Made for some great pictures and a clean and amusing food.

Not all food is quite so clean. This peanut butter and banana sandwhich that Zayne was eatting from the center out sure made a mess of his cute little cheeks!